Cristallina Fischetti's solo exhibition 'Alchemea' is on view at the Art Centre in the crypt of St Marylebone Parish Church, London, from 25 April to 18 May. The show presents ten works from the first two acts of a planned 33-painting cycle, incorporating unconventional materials such as coffee, wine, plastic, and leather. Fischetti's process involves ritualistic dance, drawing on her background in ballet, yoga, alchemy, and mystical healing, with influences from abstract expressionists like Frankenthaler and Motherwell, as well as Hilma af Klint.
The exhibition matters because it highlights a contemporary artist who merges material experimentation with spiritual and ecological themes, offering a fresh perspective on abstract painting. Fischetti's use of recycled plastic and references to healing and alchemy reflect broader conversations about sustainability and consciousness in art. The venue's permanent collection of icon paintings adds a spiritual dimension, making the show a notable example of site-specific dialogue between old and new artistic traditions.